Lamar Odom Waited Too Long … Lakers Pull Offer

Lakers owner Jerry Buss isn’t amused. After free-agent forward Lamar Odom and his agent failed to respond to the Lakers’ offer of $9 millino a season, Buss pulled the offer off the table yesterday (July 14). Said Lakers public relations director John Black, “Yes, we have taken the deal off the table. Talks have broken down for the time being.” When asked if they would resume in the future Black said, “That’s within the realm of possibility.” According to Lakers team officials who were not authorized to talk about negotiations, Buss offered Odom a deal for $9 million a season (for four years at $36 million) or $10 million a season (for three years for $30 million).

Odom and his agent Jeff Schwartz have reportedly been talking to the Dallas Mavericks and with Miami Heat President Pat Riley but have refused to speak to the Lakers and Buss was fed up. Odom averaged 12.3 points, third-best on the Lakers, and 9.1 rebounds, second-best on the team, during the Lakers’ Championship run in the playoffs and proved his worth to the team. During the NBA Finals against Orlando Odom averaged 13.4 points and 7.8 rebounds and had 17 points and 10 rebounds in Game 5 when the Lakers beat the Magic 99-86. The Lakers thought their offer to Odom was fair and are surprised that he didn’t accept it.

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